Reproductive Management and Performances of Aceh Cows, Local Indonesian Cattle Kept by Farmers in A Traditional System

Abstract

Background: Aceh cattle is one of seven local cattle breed in Indonesia that have an essential role for rural communities in the economic, social, and cultural aspect. Aceh cattle kept by smallholder farmers for beef cattle purposes, and working or preparing paddy field in a traditional system with the poor condition of colony housing, tethered in the backyard, and grazed around post-harvest paddy field. As a consequence, poor performances and low reproduction rate are general phenomena for Aceh cows. Objective: The study was conducted to identify reproductive management and performance of Aceh cows kept by farmers with the traditional system in Aceh Province, Indonesia Methodology: A numbers of 162 farmers located in Muara Batu, Sawang, and Nisam sub-district, North Aceh district, Aceh Province, and their cows (175 heads) were involved in this study. Farmers were interviewed using a semi-structural questionnaire to evaluate reproduction management done by farmers, while the cows were measured and recorded for their reproductive performances. The qualitative data were analyzed descriptively, while quantitative data were analyzed using oneway analysis of variance and continued with DMRT. Results: Farmer's background on three sub-district shown the traditional system based on small ownership of cattle (3 head/farmer) and objective for saving (94,7%). The most of farmers in three different sub-districts had an excellent heat detection capability (47.2%) and applied natural mating (70.9%). Farmers at Nisam sub-district had the best management on postpartum mating, mated the cows at 110±28.19 days after calving, service per conception 1.04±0.21 times and the shortest calving intervals 12.61±1.72 months differed within Muara Batu and Sawang sub-district 14.32±3.76 and 17.11±3.65 months respectively. The first estrous age, first calving age, and estrous cycle did not differ amongst cows in three different subdistricts with the average were 27.25±3,94 months; 38.10±5,22 months; and 19.57±1,82 days, respectively. Conclusion: Reproductive management playsa role in the productivity of Aceh cows with the traditional production system, the farmers had proper management of Aceh cows reproduction. Aceh cows kept by farmers in Nisam sub-district had the best reproductive performances in terms of postpartum mating, service per conception, and calving intervals.